Major Requirements

The environmental studies major is designed to teach students how to understand their physical and social environments as the intersection of a variety of overlapping forces, including constraints of biology and climate, as well as the influence of law and public policy, literature and philosophy. This major recognizes the urgency of an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems such as resource depletion, overpopulation, habitat loss, environmental degradation, pollution, and ultimately the loss of biodiversity. As the major draws upon courses from across all three academic divisions of the University, the skills and knowledge imparted to students are correspondingly broad, yet centered around an abiding concern with the environment.

Major: Environmental Studies (BA)

Environmental Studies Course Requirements

Sem. Hrs.

ENVS 106: Humans, the Environment & Sustainability

4

MBE 201: Introductory Macroeconomics
&
MBE 202: Introductory Microeconomics
OR
MBE 100: Introduction to Economics
&
MBE 207: Economics and the Environment

8
PHIL/ENVS 304: Environmental Ethics 4
POLS/ENVS 326: Environmental Policy Analysis 4
ENG/ENVS 410: Environmental Writings 4
Choose TWO from the following courses:
BIO 130: Principles of Biology I
ENVS 107 Environmental Biology
EES 132: Environmental Geology without lab
EES133: Environmental Geology with lab
EES 200: Oceanography
EES 210: Meteorology
EES 270: Environmental Chemistry
8
Choose TWO from the following courses:
BIO 316: General Ecology
BIO 340: Tropical Marine Ecology
BIO 355: Marine Ecology
BIO 475: Natural and Social History of the Chesapeake Bay
EES 300: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
EES 320: Energy and the Environment
EES330: Advanced Topics in Geology
EES 340: Climatology
EES 410: Physical Hydrology
EES 425: The Age of Oil
EES 450: Biogeochemistry
8
One of the following:
ENVS 283: Seminar in Alaska
ENVS 470: Internship in Environmental Studies
BIO 375: Topics in Tropical Biology
BIO 470: Internships in the Natural Sciences
BIO 489: Research in the Natural Sciences
EES 250: Field Experiences in Earth and Environment Sciences
EES470: Internship in the Natural Sciences
EES 489: Research in the Natural Sciences
REC 348: Maui to Moguls: The Impact of Adventure Travels on Culture & the Environment
2-4
Choose One of the Following:
ENVS 420: Topics in Sustainability
ENVS 444: Communicating Ocean Science to Informal Audiences (COSIA)
PHIL 372: Beyond the Western Tradition
POLS 343: Public Administration
POLS 373: Conflict Management
REC 347: Outdoor Recreation and Education
ENG/ENVS 306: Ecopoetry
4
Total credit hours 46-48

Students may NOT double major in ENVS and Sustainability Management, due to the modest degree of overlap between the two.

Minor: Environmental Studies

Course Number And Title

Sem. Hrs.

Choose Three from the following courses:
ENVS 106: Humans, the Environment & Sustainability
PHIL/ENVS 304: Environmental Ethics
ENG/ENVS 306: Ecopoetry
POLS/ENVS 326: Environmental Policy Analysis
ENG/ENVS 410: Environmental Writings
12
Choose One of the Following:
BIO 130: Principles of Biology I
EES 130: Physical Geology without Laboratory
EES 132: Environmental Geology without lab
EES 200: Oceanography
EES 210: Meteorology
EES 250: Field Experiences in Earth and Environment Sciences
EES 270: Environmental Chemistry
4

Choose One of the Following:
BIO 316: General Ecology
BIO 320: Ornithology
BIO 355: Marine Ecology
BIO 375: Topics in Tropical Biology
BIO 475: Natural and Social History of the Chesapeake Bay
BIO 489: Research in the Natural Sciences
EES 300: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
EES 320: Energy and the Environment
EES 330: Advanced Topics in Geology
EES 340: Climatology
EES 410: Physical Hydrology
EES 450: Biogeochemistry
EES 489: Research in the Natural Sciences

4
Total 20